Hullo, if you’re reading this then either it’s an accident or you actually want to know something about the person behind all the words {and drawings}. Well, my name is Monika, I’m 22ish, about to graduation from college with a bachelors degree in fine arts {illustration} and I’m scared to death to have to face art directors and clients. I suppose it is all part of the working process. I’m sure I’ll get used to it at some point, after all, I was just a scared little nooblet when I first started at this school.

I attend RMCAD, or Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for those of you who are bad with the shortening of long names. The illustration department here leaves something lacking really. All of the classes are very traditional which is extremely useful, but I wish there was more of an emphasis on more modern techniques. The digital classes that we -do- get are few in number and so rushed that it seems little really catches on. I myself illustration art from the darker side of the spectrum, dealing mostly in horror and adult fantasy. I’m really not a fan of prissy childrens book illustration, though I suppose I am capable of it. {I did end up having to take Childrens Book Illustration 1, worthless class}.

When I grow up I want to be a painting. No seriously though, I would kill to work for Wizards of the Coast, or Flagship Studios, Massive Black, Bioware, ILM, anywhere really. I just want to draw to my hearts content. I know that these are pretty unobtainable goals but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try my hardest to reach them. So we shall we what happens.

My influences are few and far between.. some artists I am fond of, or was fond of at one point in time include Tim Burton, Edward Gorey, Paul Kidby and a few other illustrators whose names escape me. My studies have improved my work a thousand times over and I am grateful for all of the time and effort my father, instructors and friends have given me. Without them I’d still be that lame little artist scratching out badly proportioned people on notebook paper.

So yes. Holy crap this is me on the night of the grad show.